RANNI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold misappropriation case, has been remanded to Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody until October 30 by the Ranni Judicial First Class Magistrate Court. The custody was granted following a plea by the SIT, which is focused on recovering nearly two kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled out of the revered hill shrine by Potti. The recovery of the stolen gold is considered a crucial element of the investigation.
Custody Granted for Recovery and Probe
The SIT’s remand report, submitted to the court, categorised Potti’s actions as a serious violation of temple custom (acharalamghanam) and claimed that he had received support from certain Devaswom officials. The report also indicated that the gold was separated with the assistance of the firm Smart Creations. Citing his past involvement in similar offenses and the need for evidence collection across various locations, the SIT pressed for his custody for detailed interrogation and fieldwork.
Potti, a priest-turned-businessman, was formally arrested at 2:30 AM after approximately ten hours of intense interrogation at a secret location in Thiruvananthapuram, having been taken into custody from his residence the previous afternoon.
Accused Alleges Framing, Faces Public Anger
Emerging from the court, Unnikrishnan Potti reacted sharply, claiming he had been framed. “All those who conspired to trap me will face the law,” he declared, a comment widely interpreted as being directed at implicated Devaswom officials. As Potti was being escorted away, he was met with public anger; local BJP workers reportedly threw a slipper at him.
Confession Reveals Nexus with Officials
During his marathon interrogation, Potti reportedly confessed to the fraud, but maintained that he did not act alone, implicating several Devaswom Board officials in the conspiracy. He disclosed that the initial plan, which began under the pretext of sponsoring gold plating for the door frame (kattilappali), was to hold ceremonies with the articles in various places to collect money, which failed and resulted in a loss of about three lakhs.
It was following this failure that the plan escalated into gold theft with the alleged help of officials, including Murari Babu. Potti reportedly revealed that he “reciprocated” the favour to officials who helped him by documenting the valuable gold-plated articles as mere “copper” to cover up the theft.
